Marceline in Linn County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Walt Disney's "Barn Circus"
Walt Disney was the age of four when his family moved from Chicago to a forty-acre farm in Marceline. Walt quickly learned to love farm life, and the old barn became his and his younger sister Ruth's favorite place to play.
The barn provided Walt with his first show business experience when he produced a "barn circus" and charged the neighborhood kids a dime admission. When his audience discovered the circus consisted of a goat, a pig, and a family dog and cat dressed in Ruth's doll clothes, they protested. Hearing the commotion, Walt's mother Flora promptly ordered Walt to refund the admission with this admonition: 'If you deliver more than your audience expects - they will never be disappointed." It's a lesson Walt took to heart.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Entertainment • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 39° 43.953′ N, 92° 56.647′ W. Marker was in Marceline, Missouri, in Linn County. It could be reached from West Broadway Street. Marker is along the trail leading from the parking lot to The Happy Place replica, on the former Disney homestead, located off Broadway about 150 feet west of Missouri Avenue (Missouri Highway 5). Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Marceline MO 64658, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in North Missouri. It was also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Welcome to Walt's Barn (a few steps from this marker); Marceline Inspiration (within shouting distance of this marker); Coming to Marceline (within shouting distance of this marker); Walt's Happy Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Walt Learns a Valuable Lesson (within shouting distance of this marker); The Original Dreaming Tree (within shouting
distance of this marker); The Son of Dreaming Tree (within shouting distance of this marker); As an adult Walt Disney wrote (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Marceline.
Other markers no longer nearby. The "So Dear To My Heart" Barn (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Walt Disney on Marceline (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Happy Place (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); The Dreaming Tree (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); a different marker also named Coming to Marceline (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Regarding Walt Disney's "Barn Circus". This marker was replaced by a similar marker.
Also see . . .
1. Walt Disney Hometown Museum. Website homepage (Submitted on July 29, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Just Disney. Website homepage (Submitted on July 29, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on May 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 29, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 687 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 29, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

